Wardrobe suitcase



- SePt- 29, 1935- J. RITTER, JR

4 A WARDROBE SUITCASE 2 sheets-sheet l Fild June 24, 1935 'lll/111,115(

-VENT R.

M s 77M ATTORNEY,

Filed June 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Shee?I 2 ATTORNEY,

Patented Sept. 29, 1936 WARDROBE SUITCASE .Julius Ritter, Jr., Racine, Wis., assignor to Hartmann Trunk Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 24, 1935, Serial No. `28,106

6 Claims.

This invention relates in general to improvementsv in Wardrobe suitcases.

-A general object of the invention is -to :provide an improvedwardrobe suitcase which is simple, compact, ,and light in construction, and which is moreover highly efficient and practical in use.

rThe present `tendencies in travel `make it desirable for luggage. manufacturers to reduce to a minimum the size and'weight -of luggage cases, without undesirably sacrificing available space. The traveling public alsodemands that cases for Wearingapparel such as suits, coats, and the like be'adapted to Veffectively'conceal and confine the garments ,without undesirably crushing'and wrinkling the same and that the garments be readily accessible without ydisturbingother articles conned Within the carrying case.

4While it is desireral.

There are on themarket certain forms of` wardrobe suitcases particularly designed for mens suits and coats wherein the garments are foldably confined vwithin one section-,fofy the case by means ofA one or more garment folding frames adapted to engage and fold extended portions of garments draped froma plurality of hangers in superimposed relation 4within another portion .of

the case section.

Heretofore, when anattempt has been made to pack several vsuits or garments in a case` of this type, the constructions have been such that While. the top or outermost garments were at all times accessible and removable, thesame was not true of garments supported inwardly, with the result thatan inwardlydisposed garment could not be reached and removed without disturbing and disarranging garmentsoutwardly thereof.

It is, therefore, another object ofthe present invention to overcome the above objection by providing a Wardrobe suitcase structure of the class mentioned, wherein inwardly disposed garments may be readily individually removed from their frames and the suitcase without removing,

mussing garments outwardly Av further spe'cic object of the invention is to provide a wardrobe suitcase employing several superimposed hangers which are mounted -in such manner that any selected hanger may -be removed from the mounting bracket without re- 5 movingorireleasing any of the other hangers.

Another specific object of the invention is the provision of a Wardrobe suitcase with hanger mounting means therein for several hangers,-ar ranged so that all of the hangers may bereleasably locked in the mounting IinV a manner so as to -permit swinging movement of the hangers, but preventing undesired removal or detachment of any of the hangers relative to the mounting means.

A further specific object of the invention is the provision of a wardrobe suitcase with hanger mounting means therein for several hangers, and constructed so that a hanger can only berremovedfrom the mounting means when it' is in a flat` position within the case section, removal of a hanger being impossible when itis in atilted position relative to the case section.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of awardrobe suitcase having a wardrobe section including folding frame :members and hangers; the wardrobe section being removable bodily as a tray forrconveniencein disposition for loading and unloading operations.

. A further object of the invention is tor provide a wardrobe suitcase wherein certain classes of garments are entirely foldably confined within a sec'tionof the case which. is end opening and detachable relative to the other section of the case.

r Still another object of the present' invention is to provide Aa Wardrobe suitcase wherein. a` pair of swingable garment folding frames are mounted in one Vsection of the case in a manner -so as not to interfere with oneanother in the independent arrangement of garments thereon. 40

.A further object of the invention is to. provide a garment frame equipped wardrobe suitcase wherein` special provision is made forjthe packing of trousers, and the side membersofthe frames are offset inwardly for this purpose .and to `permit the folding of portions of the trousers there around.

Another speciciobject of the invention is to provide a Wardrobe suitcase which includes one or more removable garment hangers adapted either forsnug confinement within a section of the'case, or for effective use whenhangingan associated garment in a wardrobe `or closet.

iThesewand other specific objectsandfadvan-v tages will be apparent from the following detailed description.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention may be had by referring to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specication in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is a transverse vertical sectional View through a wardrobe suitcase in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the suitcase as opened, a portion of the body section being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the wardrobe section of the suitcase, indicated by line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and with the top or outermost garment folding frame and associated hanger swung to upright positions;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the wardrobe section with the same frame and hanger in upright position;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the showings in Figs. .3 and 4 with the outermost garment hanger removed, and illustrating one mode of packing a pair of trousers in addition to other pieces of a suit of clothes;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 6 9 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a similar enlarged fragmentary, detail sectional View illustrating the manner in which the hinges permit complete separation and detachment of the case sections; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detail View showing the hanger carrying bracket and the engagement of a hanger therewith, the hanger being shown in an outwardly moved position.

While the invention has been shown herein as being specifically applied to an end-opening wardrobe suitcase, it will be apparent that some of the novel features are capable of more general application, and that the specific disclosure should not therefore be construed as an intent to limit the scope.

The suitcase specifically illustrated is of rectangular form and includes a body section It, to an end portion of which a wardrobe or cover section II is hingedly connected. The hinge connections, as shown in detail in Figs. 6 and '7, are such that the section II may, when opened out flatly with respect to the section I9, be detached and entirely bodily removed. For this purpose an exterior end wall of the body section I9 carries pintles I2 pivotally engaged by the curved ends of hooking plates I3 carried by an exterior end wall of the cover section II. The case sections swing to open position end-wise with respect to each other, attaining the open position of Figs. 2 and 6. To bodily detach or separate the cover section from the body section it is necessary to then raise the cover section to disengage the hooks I3 from the pintles I2, after which the sections may be entirely separated, as in Fig. 7.

While the elongated end opening, separable hinge case has special obvious advantages, the principles of the improved construction hereinafter to be described, may, within the scope of the invention, be embodied in a case which opens in the standard manner with adjacent side walls of the sections connected so that one section opens relative to a side of the other section.

In the suitcase illustrated the body section I0 constitutes the main section of the case and the top or front wall thereof carries a handle I4. When the cover section II is swung into closed relation with respect to the body section it may be locked by means of latches I5. 'I'he body section I0 is susceptible of holding various classesV of garments and traveling paraphernalia and is equipped with flexible straps or stays I6 for maintaining articles in position therewithin.

The wardrobe section II of the suitcase is adapted to be loaded with garments such as suits, coats, trousers, and the like, and such garments, save for trousers, extend in folded condition transversely of the case section. There is within the case section II a pair of pivotal, garment folding U-frames, designated generally by the numerals Il and I8 respectively. Each frame includes a pair of side arms I9 and I9 respectively, joined respectively at their outer ends by transverse bars 20 and 20 The innermost frame I'I has side arms a trifle shorter than the side arms I9 of the outermost frame I8 whereby the pivotal connections 2l and 22 of the pairs of arms, are somewhat staggered. By means of the pivotal connections 2| and 22 the arms of each frame are connected to opposite inner-end wall portions of the case section II and such connections are adjacent the lower end of the case, when it is in carrying position, with the result that the bars 29 and 2| are disposed adjacent the top portion of the case when it is in carrying position. It should also be observed that the frames I'I and I8 are disposed in superimposed relation, and that the major portions of the side arms I9 and I9 are oifset inwardly from the end walls of the case section to provide clearance between the same and said walls for the reception of folded portions of trousers, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Secured to the inner surface of the inner or bottom wall and the section II, intermediate its ends, is a multiple hanger carrying bracket 25. This bracket includes a lower or inner, curved, offset engaging portion 23 with a reduced approach 24 thereto, and an upper or outer, curved, off-set engaging portion 23 with a reduced approach 24 thereto. A locking lever 26 has its inner end pivotally connected to the inner or lower portion of the bracket 25 and is adapted to be normally swung into and out of restrictive engagement with the approaches 24 and 24'.

A pair of coat hangers 21 and 28 are adapted to coact with the bracket 25. The medial portion of each hanger carries a projecting plate 29 with a rectangular opening 30 therein, there being a reduced entrance SI to said opening. The end portion of the plate, adjacent the reduced entrance 3|, is flanged, as at 32, at right angles to the major portion of the plate. Each hanger also has pivotally connected thereto a hook member 33, the hooks being susceptible of being moved from the positions shown to opposite projecting positions, permitting, upon removal of the hangers from the case, their being hung in a closet or wardrobe in the usual manner for clothes supporting purposes.

In engaging the lower or inner hanger 2l with the bracket 25, the hanger is positioned fiat with respect to the case section and the locking lever 26 is moved to open position. The reduced entrance portion 3l of the hanger plate 29 engages the approach 24 and the hanger is then moved downwardly until the bracket portion 23 lodges within the opening 3Q. The outer hanger 28 is engaged with the bracket portion 23 in the same manner. When the locking lever 2S is moved to locking position against a side of the reduced approaches 24 and 24', both hangers will be locked within the bracket against undesired removal and dislodgement. The hangers may however, be individually swung fromY flatposi` tions through ninety degree angles,ntooutwardly projecting positions. It should'be noted, however, that Lwhen a hangeris swungr touan1outwardly projecting position, even though the locking lever 25-be in openpositions, such-hanger: cannotbe disengaged from the bracket. This result is accomplished by thel hangerplate flanges 32 which then presentfsurfacesito prevent Withdrawal through the reduced entrance to the particularl curved off-set engaging portion of the bracket, as. shown'in. connection .with vthe 'upturned hanger in Figs; 3 and 8. Obviously, when either hanger isV turned down,rand.the-,locking lever is in open position, such hanger maybev removed .from its mounting byan operation which is. thereverse of that describedin connection with its attachment. .Thisaarrangement is vof considerable advantage'becauseiifit is desired to remove theuinner hanger and garments .thereon from the case,"the upper hanger, with the garmentsand frame, may. be swung outwardly, and then the lower hanger Yis readily vremovable',:with out disturbingY or'mussing garmentsl carried by the otherY assembly.

AssumingV that itz-is the intention to pack the section II of the suitcase with twov menssuits, the procedure fis'as follows: The case isrst openedy outflatly with the section I tresting `horizontally, open side upwardly. v*Both `of the hangers 21 and 28` areremoved from the'bracket 25. Also, bothof theA garment folding frames I1 and I8 are swung outwardlyof the'case section. One pair of trousers'` 34 may be laid flatly on the bottom of the section,'longitudin'ally thereof vand with the legs of the trousersV extendingover an end wallV of the section. The lotheri pair of trousers 35 is positioned in a reversemanner with its legs extending over vthe other end wall of said section. The coat and vest of one suit are next hung on the hanger 21 in the usual manner, and this hanger is then engaged with the portion 23 of the bracket 25, in the manner previously described. The coat is smoothed and extends over the wall of the section opposite the bracket 25. Thereafter, the U-frame 21 is pivotally moved into the case section II and its transverse bar 2l) engages the media portion of the coat, while the side bars I9 engage the extended portions of the trousers 34 and 35. The extended portion of the coat is folded over on the bar 20 into the case section, while the extended portions of the trousers are folded over both side bars I9, in the manner shown in Fig. 5. A coat and vest are foldably conned by the outermost hanger and U-frame in the same way. As described, the trousers are ultimately folded over the side members I9 of the U-frame II. Due to the fact that the major portions of said side members are off-set inwardly from the end walls of the case section, clearance is provided for the accommodation of these portions of the trousers.

In addition to the mode of packing the trousers just described, one pair may be folded on the inner frame as described, and the other pair may be folded in the same manner on the outer frame. Also, one or more pairs of trousers may simply be positioned in folded condition in the section below the inner frame, and not be folded thereon. However, the former manner of arranging the trousers is believed to be preferable because the trousers are engaged by the frame arms and folded portions held thereby against the end walls, and there is less danger of the trousers slipping out of position and being wrinkledwhenv thefcase is .handled orV positioned upright for-carrying. It should also be observed that when the packed case is in the'position for carrying, Yas in Fig. l the bars of the U-frames are-atthev top ofthe case and the coats drape thereover in a natural vmanner without danger of becoming dislodged.

:After .the 'wardrobe section has been packed asdescribed; the garments may be covered and protected by a exible curtain 36. This curtain ispermanently'secured=along one edge to a side wall ofthe section I I, while the other edge thereof .cariieszadjustable fastener elements 3l for releasable: engagement with fastener elements 3S carried-by the opposite wall of the case section.

` TheA case section Ill is adapted to be packed with other classes of'v garments and articles. If thezcase `is. of the separable section type illustrated, the hinges of the two sections should be connected, and then the sections are closed relative to `each other and are secured by the latches I5.

During traveling, when the case is opened, the

owner may very readily gain access to the inner suit orgarment by merely swinging out the outer :frame carrying the outer garment. As previouslyidescribed, the hanger 28 cooperating with theouter frame cannot then be removed, but if thelever 2E isthrown to open position the inner hanger 2li is readily removable. Hence. removal of or access to an inner garment is readilyaccomplished without mussing or disturbing other, more outwardly disposed garments.

Obviously, the suitcase 'may be constructed as a conventional, side opening case. Also, if a case for a greater number of suits is desired, the wardrobe section II will then become the deeper of the two.sections, and will be proportioned so as to accommodate a desired number of hangers and U-frames. If the wardrobe section is the wider or deeper of the two sections it will carry the handle I4. In addition, if the case is of the separable section type and the wardrobe section is arranged with the carrying handle, closure flap means may be provided for the open face of said section so it may be carried and used independently of its other section.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the invention provides simple, compact, and readily accessible means for foldaoly conning garments within one section of a suitcase. The folding devices are arranged' and mounted so that convenient access to all portions of the sections is permitted, and so that all garments are readily individually accessible.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact details of construction herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

What is claimed as the invention is:

l. In combination, a housing, a pair of garment folding frames pivotally mounted therein, a pair of garment hangers ccacting with the frames in the support and folding of garments mounted on the hangers, means for swingably mounting the hangers within the housing in separated, superimposed relation, means for permitting the independent removal of either hanger from the mounting means while the other hanger is engaged, and means for simultaneously releasably locking both hangers in the mounting means.

2. In combination,

a housing, a bracket mounted adjacent one wall of the housing, a pair of garment hangers pivotally and separate- 1y and independently releasably carried by the bracket, a pair of garment folding frames pivotally mounted adjacent the same wall of the housing and cooperable with said hangers to separately, ioldably coniine several garments within said housing, and means for simultaneously releasably locking both hangers in the bracket.

3. In combination, a garment housing, a pair of U-frames pivotally mounted within the housing in superimposed relation, a frame being adapted to have garments folded over its transverse portion and other garments folded over its side portions, a pair of hangers for the support of garments which fold over the transverse portions of said frames, means for individually and independently releasably mounting said hangers within the housing in superimposed, spacedapart relation and remote from the transverse portions of the frame, and means for simultaneously releasably locking both hangers in the mounting means.

4. In a wardrobe case, a garment folding U- frame including a pair of side arms and a transverse bar connecting the outer ends of said side arms, said transverse bar being adapted to have garments draped thereover, and pivotal connections between the inner ends of said side arms and inner wall portions of the case, the major portions of said side arms being off-set inwardly from said case wall portions to provide spaces for the accommodation of portions of other garments folded over said side arms.

5. In a wardrobe case, a hanger removably mounted within a section of the case, a garment folding U-frame including a pair of side arms and a transverse bar connecting the outer ends of said side arms, said transverse bar being adapted to have the extended portions of garments folded thereover which are draped from the hanger, and pivotal connections between the inner ends of said side arms and inner wall portions of the case, the major portions of said side arms being off-set inwardly from said case wall portions to provide spaces for the accommodation of portions of other garments folded over said side arms.

6. A wardrobe suitcase, comprising a pair of complementary sections, separable hinge connections between adjacent end walls of said sections permitting complete detachment and bodily removal of one section with respect to the other, a pair of garment folding U-frames mounted within one section of the case in superimposed relation, each frame including a pair of side arms and a transverse bar connecting the outer ends of said side arms, said transverse bars being adapted to have the extended portions of garments folded thereover, pivotal connections between the inner ends of said side arms and inner wall portions of said section of the case, the pivotal connections for the arms of one frame being staggered and oft-set with respect to the pivotal connections for the arms of the other frame, the major portions of said side arms being off-set inwardly from said section side wall portions to provide spaces for the accommodation of portions of other garments folded over said side arms, a pair of hangers for the support of garments which fold over said transverse bars of the frames, and means for individually and independently releasably, pivotally mounting said hangers within said case section in superimposed, spaced-apart relation and remote from the transverse portions of the frames.

JULIUS RITTER, JR. 

